Container top and opener construction



L. FRIED April 30, 1957 CONTAINER TOP AND OPENER cous-muc'rxon Filed Feb. 20, 1953 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Louis Fried v ATTORNEYS April 1957 I.. FRIED ,790,577

CONTAINER TOP AND OPENER CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 20, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR' Louis Fried ATTORNEYS April 30, 1957 FRIED 0, 7

CONTAINER TOP AND OPENER CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 2c, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Louis Fried ATTORNEYS nited States The present invention relates to improvements in container or can top constructions and more particularly relates to an improved container top construction embodying means for opening the same for dispensing the contents of the container.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved container top construction having improved opener means carried thereby wherein the container top can be easily manually opened without requiring any separate can opener.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved container top construction wherein the metallic plate member thereof has a dispensing opening preformed therein so as to obviate the necessity of severing metal to dispense the contents of the can, and wherein the preformed opening is closed off by a frangible member.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved container top construction wherein the preformed dispensing opening, under which the frangible member is disposed for closing off communication be tween the container contents and the atmosphere, is provided with means covering the same so as to prevent accidental fracture of the frangible member, which means upon removal from the container top can be employed for severing the frangible member.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved container top construction wherein there is a preformed dispensing opening formed therein and closed otf by a frangible member with an opener means associated with the top to protectively cover the opening from both sides with the exception of a small area on the inner side through which a pointed end of the opener means on the outer side of the cover can be engaged for puncturing the frangible seal provided by the frangible member so as to preliminarily relieve gases from within the container.

Still another object of the present invention is to promovably carried by the container top and which can be employed to protectively cover the dispensing opening and frangible seal from accidental fracture, to preliminariiy puncture the seal to relieve gases within the container and to sever the frangible seal for dispensing the contents of the can. 7

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a simple and easily openable container top construction and which is economical of manufacture so as to not aftact substantially the overall cost of the container.

in containers of the instant type and especially containers for carbonated beverages such as beer wherein the top closure or container top is seamed to the open end of the container after it has been filled with the beverage, great care has been required so that beverage-to-metal contact is obviated. The major protection against such contact is provided by coating the inner surfaces of the Hce container body and top with lacquer or other suitable coating. However, even with this protection, the application of the container top to the body and the formation of the seam therebetween sometimes results in scratches in the lacquer or like coating. Although the scratches are relatively small in area the contents of the can or container is seriously affected resulting in'spoilage. The fact that a scratch has been made obviously cannot be practicably determined by inspection after the seaming operation is completed. Therefore, a means of avoiding the occurrence of such scratching is highly desirable. Accordingly, it is a further object of the present invention to overcome the difficulty heretofore encountered in producing a uniformly satisfactory seam and seal at the seam.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved container top construction, whether an opener be associated therewith, incorporated therein, or entirely separate therefrom, wherein the possibility of any scratches occurring during the seaming operation between the cover and body is entirely obviated.

Various other objects and advantages will become apparent from the detailed description to follow. The best embodiments in which I have contemplated applying my invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a first embodiment of container top and opener construction as applied to a metal container, part being broken away;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the elements which comprise the container top and opener construction;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the plane of line 33 of Fig. 1 and showing the manner in which the opener is removed from the container top and used to sever the frangible seal of the top preparatory to dispensing the contents of the container;

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the opener element as viewed from its under side;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of container top and opener construction as applied to a metal container, part being broken away; a

Fig. 6 is a perspective exploded view of the container top and opener construction of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the plane of line 7-7 of Fig. 5 and showing the manner in which the opener is employed for preliminarily puncturing the frangible seal;

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the opener element as viewed from its under side;

7 Fig. 9 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of container top and opener construction as applied to a container for carbonated beverages and the like; i

Fig. 10 is a perspective exploded view of the container top and opener construction of Fig. 9; i

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the plane of line 11-41 of Fig. 9 and showing the manner in which the opener," in dotted lines, is employed for preliminarily puncturing the frangible sealing disc;

Fig. 12 is a detail perspective View, as viewed from the underside, of the opener member per se; and

Fig. 13 is a plan view of a layout of the opener member per se.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, thenumeral 10 m F1gs l4 designates generally a first embodiment of my contamer top construction as applied to a can such .or fractured, and an opener means 24 adapted to be carried by the plate member 14.

The plate member 14 has on its underside at the peripheral flanged portion 16 a coating 15 of latex. Similarly, the plastic disc 22 has an annular coating 23 on its underside at the peripheral portion. Thus, in assembly, the plastic disc can be mounted on the underside of the plate member 14 and the plate member 14 and plastic disc 22 can be both mounted on the open end 18 of the container body 20 and sealing-1y seamed thereto with latex bonding the sevenal element-s together.

The plate member 14 has a rectangular opening 26 formed therein, although it will be understood that the opening 26 can be of any other shape, regular or irregular, and spaced from the periphery of the container top as shown or adjacent the periphery of the top. The open ing 26 is preformed in the top and provides the dispensing opening for emptying the contents of the container. Spaced from the opening 26 is a narrow slot 28 for a purpose to be more fully described hereinafter.

The opener means 24 of the first embodiment includes a pair of substantially flat portions 30 and 32 joined in overlapping relationship by the bend or told at 34. The opener means is preferably formed of metal which is easily bent. The substantially flat portion 30 has a pointed end at 36. The substantially fiat portion 32 has an ofiset at 38 adjacent the fold and is of substantially rectangular shape, and both flat portions are sufficient in size to substantially cover the dispensing opening 26 'from both sides.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that in assembling the container top construction on a container, the opener means 24 is first engaged through the slot 28 so that the offset portion is disposed at the slot with the pointed portion 30 overlying the dispensing opening 26 while the rectangular portion 32 underlies the dispensing opening, the two portions 30 and 32 relatively tightly embracing the opposing sides of the plate member so as to protectively cover the dispensing opening.

Next, the frangible disc 22 is disposed over the bottom face of the plate member so as to entirely cover the same as well as. the opener means. The assembly is then seamed to the container body 20 which has previously been filled with a beverage, the seaming operation being substantially conventional in nature and thus requiring no further description.

When it is desired to open the container with the top of the first embodiment, it is merely necessary to engage ones fingertip beneath thepointed end 36 to raise the same to the dotted line posit-ion 30 in Fig. 3. Then the opener means is withdrawn from the top by a sliding movement out of the slot. The opener means is then manually manipulated to puncture and fracture thefrangible disc as shown in dotted lines at 30', in Fig. 3 so as to expose the contents through the opening and ready the container for dispensing.

In the second embodiment of Figs. -8, itrwill be seen that the top constructions are substantially identical ex cept for the opener means 40. The plate member 14' has a flanged periphery v16 coated with latex at 15. The frangible disc 22 has an annular coating at 23', also of latex.

The opener means 40 includes a pair of substantially flat end portions 42 and 44 and an adjoining, substantially flat, intermediate portion 46. The one end portion '42 is pointed at 48, and the other end portion 44 is sub stantially rectangular, both end portions being of such size as to substantially completely cover the disengaging opening 26' from both sides. The portion 44 has a small slot 50 located so as to be exposed to the dispensing opening when the opener means is properly positioned on the container top. The port-ion 44 is also provided with an offset at 52.

The assembly of the container top construction of the second embodiment is similar to that in the first embodiment except that when the portion 44 is received through the slot 28 and the offset 52 engaged therein the intermediate portion 46 and the pointed end portion 42 overlie the dispensing opening. The top is seamed to the container body 2b, which has previously been filled with beer or the like, in a substantially conventional fashion at 21', the latex coating bonding the several elements together at the seam.

When it is desired to open the container having a top construction in acordance with the second embodiment, it is merely necessary to engage oncs fingertip beneath the bend or fold between the end portion 42 and the intermediate portion 46 to lift the two portions about the bend at 54 to the position shown in dotted lines at 56. The pointed end portion is then beat forwardly about the bend at 45 to the dotted line position 55 so as to align the pointed end 48 with the slot 50. Next the pointed end is 'forced into the slot so as to puncture the frangible seal to preliminarily relieve the gas pressure from within the container. The movement of the pointed end into the container is limited by the ends of the slot against which it abuts.

The opener means 4% can then be removed by withdrawal of the portion 44 from the slot 23' and finally the pointed end 48 can be utilized to sever the frangible disc sufficiently so that the contents can be dispensed.

in the third embodiment of Figs. 943, it is to be noted that the container top construction is substantially iden tical with those of the previous embodiments except for the opener means 60. The plate member 14', as in the conventional can top, is circular, formed from metal and provided with a flanged periphery 16". Within the flanged periphery I6" and on the underside of the plate member 14 is an annular channel 62 the major portion of which is coated with latex at 15". The plate member 14" has its central flat portion 64 provided with a rectangular dispensing opening 26 and a slot adapted to receive the opener means 60. The thin frangible plastic disc 22" has an annular undercoating of latex at 23".

Having reference now to Fig. 13, it will be seen that the opener means 6! is constructed from a fiat, thin elongated strap 66 of metal relatively easily bendable manually. One end of the strap 66 terminates in a fingerengaging point 68. The strap has a fold line at 76 about which the strap can be doubled to provide a pair of flat portions 72 and 74 and has a second fold line at 76 in one of the flat portions 74 at which fold line 76 an offset can be provided. The portion 72 has a V-shaped slit 76 formed therein with aligned slit extensions at 30 and 82 extending transversely of the strap from the ends of the legs of the V-shaped slit 78. The joinder portions at 84 and 86 provide weakened joints constituting a hinge axis. The outer half 88 of portion 72 has apointed spur 90 provided by the \l-shaped slit for a purpose to be described in detail hereinafter. The portion 74 has a small slot 92 formed therein a distance from the fold line substantially equal to the distance between the hinge the portion 72 being in overlying relation to the opening 26" with its point; 68 lying on therib at 96. Next, the frangible plastic disc 22" is secured to the underside of the cover plate 14" by means of the latex at 15 After the container b0dy'20 hasbeen filled with beer or the like, the cover top construction is fed in a conventional machine whereby the seam 21" is formed, the annular latex coating beneath the frangible disc bonds the cover plate and disc to the upper flanged end 25" of the container body.

When it is desired to dispense the contents of the container, a finger is engaged beneath the pointed end 68 and the flat portion 72 is moved about the fold at 70 and at the same time the outer portion SSis bent about its hinge axis at 84, 86 until the relationship substantially as shown in dotted lines at 60 is reached. The portion 72 .is, as shown, in a substantially perpendicularly bent relationship which is then unitarily bent downwardly about the fold at 70. In this fashion the pointed spur 90 engages through the slit 92 in the portion 74 and punctures the frangible disc to relieve the gas pressure within the container. Finally, the opener means 60 is entirely removed from the slot 28" and the pointed end 68 is employed for severing enough of the frangible disc to permit dispensing of the contents through the opening 26".

The plastic material from which the frangible disc is made while disclosed as polyethylene (gauge .003 to .005), can be any plastic that has the properties of being non-toxic, non-deleterious to any food or beverage in the container or can, and which remains substantially unafiected by extreme changes in temperature and otherwise meets food health requirements.

In view of the foregoing, it is thought that container top and opener constructions have been provided which fulfill the objects hereinbefore set forth.

An important advantage common to all of the container top constructions disclosed herein will now be discussed. It is conventional to coat the interior of container bodies and the inside surface of cover plates with a lacquer which is intended to prevent contact between the contents, such as beer, and the metal of the container. Occasionally the seaming of the top to the body is accompanied by chipping or scratching of the lacquer which thereby exposes the contents to bare metal resulting in spoilage of the contents.

With the instant constructions, the provision of the frangible plastic disc on and substantially coextensive with the underside of the cover plate obviates direct contact between the cover plate and container body at least at those portions exposed for contact with the contents of the container. Thus chipping and scratching are avoided and spoilage of the contents is eliminated.

Obviously, this advantage accrues regardless of whether the top construction is perforate or imperforate, has an opener associated therewith or is of the conventional type requiring a separate opener.

Although the disc, which may be made from Saran or other suitable plastic, is shown in each of the three embodiments as having the annular latex coating on only one side while the peripheral channel on the under side of the cover plate receives an annular coating of latex, an alternative mode of assembly may include applying annular latex coatings on both sides .of the Saran disc and bonding the disc to the cover plate at the channel, as by heat and pressure. Thereafter, the cover plate and disc bonded thereto can be seamed to the flanged edge at the open end of the container body.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefor illustrative and not restrictive, since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by .the description preceding them, and all changes the fall within the metes and .boundsof .theclaims or thatformtheir 6 functional as well as coniointly cooperative'equivalents, are thereforeintended to be embraced bythoseclairns.

What is claimed is:

1. A container top construction comprising a plate member adapted to provide a closure for a container, said plate member having an opening therein through which the contents of the container can be dispensed, a frangible sealing member closing said opening, and an opener means carried by said plate member with portions thereof substantially covering said opening in the pla-te member from both sides of said plate member and protecting the frangible sealing member from accidental fracture, said opener means including a pair of substantially flat end portions joined together by an elongated substantially flat intermediate portion, all of said portions 'being folded in overlapping relationshipr one end portion being disposed on the inner surface of said plate member and the other end portion and intermediate portion being disposed on the outer surface of said plate member, said opener means being manually bendable so that when it is desired to dispense the contents of the can, the portions of the opener means are bent relative to one another and the exterior end portion is directed into the opening of the plate member so as to fracture the sealing member.

2. A container top construction comprising a plate member having a dispensing opening therein and a slot and being adapted to provide a closure for a container, a frangible sealing member underlying said plate member so as to close said opening and slot, and Ia n opener element comprising a folded body providing substantially flat end portions and an intermediate portion joining said end portions so that the three portions overlie one another, one of said end portions covering said opening exteriorly of the container and being pointed and the other end portion covering said opening from the interior side and having a small opening into which the pointed end can be engaged to puncture the frangible sealing member to relieve pressure in the container prior to dispensing of the contents. 7 o

3. A container comprising a body. having on open end, a container top for said open end including a metallic plate member having adispensing opening, a frangible sealing member bonded at its peripheral portion to the peripheral portion of said plate member so as to close off said dispensing opening, and an opener means carried by said plate member having opposing portions thereof lying against the upper and lower sides of the'p l'alte member over and substantially covering said dispensing openirrg firom both sides of said plate member and protecting the frangible sealing member from accidental fracture, and said plate member and sealing member being bonded to the open end of said body.

4. A container comprising a body having an open end, a container top for said open and including a metallic plate member having a dispensing opening, a frangible sealing member bonded at its peripheral portion to the peripheral portion of'said plate member so as to close off said dispensing opening, and an openermeans carried by said plate member having opposing porti-ons'thereof substantially covering said dispensing opening from both sides of said plate member and protecting the frangi ble sealingmem'ber from accidental fracture, and said plate member and sealing member being bonded to the open end of said body, said opener means including a pair of substantially flat overlappingportions lying against the upper'and lower sides of the plate member, one of which portions is pointed whereby upon removal of said opener means from said plate member to exposethe opening therein, the pointed portionqcan be utilized for fracturing the frangible seal fordispensing the contents,"

, 5. A container comprising a bodyh-avingan open end,

a container .top for said open end includinga metallic p ate mem having a di ensin ore-nine; a frangible I sealing member bonded at its peripheral portion to the peripheral portion of said plate memberso as to close off said dispensing opening, and an opener means carried by said plate member with portions thereof substantially covering said dispensing opening from both sides of said plate member and protecting the frangible sealing member from accidental fracture, and said plate memher and sealing member being bonded to the open end of said body, said opener means including a pair of substantially flat end portionsjoined together by an elongated substantially flat intermediate portion, all of said portions being folded in overlapping relationship, one

end portion being disposed on the inner surface of said plate member and the other end portion and intermediate portion being disposed on the outer surface of said plate member, said opener means being manually bendable so that when it is desired to dispense the contents of the can, the portions of the opener means are bent relative to one another and the exterior end portion is directed into the opening of the plate member so as to fracture the sealing member.

6. A container top construction comprising a plate member adapted to provide a closure for a container,

said plate member having an opening therein from which the contents of the container can be dispensed, a frangible sea-ling member closing said opening, and an opener means carried by said plate member with portions thereof substantially covering said opening in the plate member from both sides of said plate member and protecting the frangible sealing member from accidental fracture, said opener means including a pair of substantially fiat portions, one of which flat portions is disposed exteriorly of the dispensing opening and has a. substantially V- shaped slit therein defining a pointed tab with a hinge axis transversely of the fiat portion at the ends of said slit whereby bending of said one flat portion about its hinge taxis provides an exposed pointed tab adapted to be moved into puncturing engagement with the frangible sealing member.

7. A container top construction comprising a plate member adapted to provide a closure for a container, said plate member having an opening therein from which the contents of the container can be dispensed, a frangible sealing member closing said opening, and an opener means, said opener means including a pair of substantially flat portions joined by a told, one of which portions overlies the dispensing opening while the other fiat portion underlies the opening, said one portion having a V-shaped slit therein with axially aligned slits extending from the ends of said V-shaped slit transversely of the one flat portion so as to provide a partially separated pointed tab adjacent a hinge axis through the slit extensions, said one portion being movable about the fold relative to the other flat portion and dispensing opening and bendable about its hinge axis to depend the pointed tab into position for puncturing the frangible sealing member.

8. A container top construction according to claim 7 wherein said other flat portion substantially entirely underlies the dispensing opening and has a slit therein into which the pointed tab is adapted to be moved.

9. A container top construction according to claim 8 I wherein said last mentioned slit and said hinge axis are approximately equally spaced from said told.

10. A container top construction comprising a plate member having a dispensing opening therein and a slot and being adapted to provide a closure for va container,

a frangible sealing member underlying said plate memher so as to close said opening and slot, and an opener element including a pair of substantially fiat portions joined by a fold, one of which flat portionsoverlies the dispensing opening while the other fiat portion underlies the openingpone of said portions having a I-shaped slit therein with axially aligned slits extending from the ends -of saidV-shaped slit transversely of the one fiat portion so as to provide a partially separated pointed tab adjacen-t a hinge axis through the slit extensions, the other flat portion having an offset therein spaced from said fold and positioned in said slot of the platemember so that part of said other portion between the fold and offset overlies and abuts the plate member, said one portion being movable about the fold relative to the other flat portion and dispensing opening and bendable about its hinge axis to depend the pointed tab into position for puncturing the frangible sealing member.

ll. An opener for removing a frangible receptacle closure, said opener comprising a single strip of flat metal folded transversely upon itself to form two superposed portions, one of said portions having the free end pointed, the other portion having an offset adjacent to the fold line whereby the major extent of said other portion is spaced from the, said one portion.

12. An opener according to claim ll, wherein the said other portion has an opening adapted to receive said pointed end.

13. An opener for removing a frangible receptacle closure, said opener comprising a length of fiat strip metal folded transversely upon itself to form two superposed portions, one of said portions having an ofiset adjacent to the fold line whereby the major extent of said one portion is spaced from the other portion, said one portion having an opening therein, and a pointed spur carcried by said other portion and adapted to be positioned for extension through said opening upon a predetermined manipulation of said other portion.

14. An opener for removing a frangible receptacle closure, said opener comprising a length of flat strip material folded transversely upon itself in two places to provide two end portions and an intermediate portion, said portions being arranged in superposed relation, one of said end portions being otfset adjacent to the end thereof which is joined to the intermediate portion whereby the major extent of the said one end portion is spaced from the intermediate portion, the other one of the end portions being disposed in the space between said one end portion and the intermediate portion, the said one end portion having an opening therein, and the said other one of the end portions having a pointed end adapted for extension through said opening upon a predetermined rearrangement of the portions.

15. A container top construction comprising a plate member adapted to provide a closure for a container,

said plate member having an opening therein through member and the plate member.

16. A container top construction com-prising a plate member adapted to provide a closure for a container, said plate member having an opening therein through which the contents of the container can be dispensed, a frangible sealing member closing said opening and a removable opener means carried by said plate member and embodying upper and lower portions of a size larger than said opening and lying one upon the top of the plate member and the other upon the under side thereof with the opening therebetween and covered by the same, the lower portion protecting the frangible sealing member from accidental firacture, one of said portions being pointed whereby upon removal of said opener means from said plate member to expose the opening therein the plate member having therein an opening of predetermined width and length through which the contents of the container can be dispensed, a frangible sealing member closing said opening and an opener means carried by said plate member and embodying a length of flat material having a width greater than the width of said opening and folded transversely upon itself to form a pair of substantially flat superposed portions having the plate member therebetween and covering said opening upon the top and under sides of the plate member, the under one of the portions protecting the frangible sealing member from accidental fracture, one of said portions having a pointed end, and said plate member having a slot extending across and spaced from an end of the opening and one fold portion of said opener being disposed in said slot.

18. An opener for removing a frangible receptacle closure, said opener comprising a single strip of flat metal folded transversely upon itself to form two superposed portions, one portion having an offset adjacent to the fold line whereby the major extent of one portion is spaced from the other portion, and a pointed means carried by said other portion for use in breaking the frangible seal.

19. A container top construction comprising a plate member having a dispensing opening therein and a slot and being adapted to provide a closure for a container, a frangible sealing member underlying said plate member so as to close said opening and slot, and an opener element comprising a strip of flat material folded upon itself to provide an under portion and an upper portion, said under portion extending through said slot to the under side of the plate member and covering said dispensing opening, said upper portion being positioned over the top of the plate member and covering said dispensing opening, and pointed means carried by said upper portion for puncturing the sealing member.

20. A container top construction according to claim 19, wherein said portions of the opener element are of a width materially greater than the dispensing opening and extend beyond the opposite sides thereof when in covering relation therewith.

21. A container top construction comprising a plate member having a dispensing opening therein and a slot disposed across and spaced from one end of said opening, the plate member being adapted to provide a closure for a container, a frangible sealing member underlying said plate member so as to close said opening and slot, and an opener element comprising a strip of flat material folded transversely upon itself to provide an under portion and an upper portion, said under portion extending through said slot to the under side of the plate and covering said dispensing opening, said upper portion being positioned over the top of the plate member and covering said dispensing opening, the under portion being offset adjacent to the fold line whereby the major extent of said under portion is spaced from the upper portion to receive the thickness of the top between the portions, the under portion lying between the dispensing opening and the frangible sealing member to protect the latter against accidental rupture, and pointed means carried by said upper portion for puncturing the sealing member.

22. A container having a wall with an opening therein through which the contents of the container can be dispensed, a frangible sealing member fully covering and closing said opening on the inner side of the wall, and an opener means carried by said wall having spaced portions extending over said opening upon the inner and outer sides of the wall.

23. A container having a wall with an opening therein through which the contents of the container can be dispensed, a frangible sealing member upon the inner 7 side of the wall fully covering and closing said opening, and an opener means carried by the wall and held thereon for complete removal therefrom and having an inner portion lying over the inner side of the wall and extending fully across the opening in one dimension thereof and an outer portion located upon the outer side of the wall and adapted to be grasped to facilitate the complete removal of the opener means from the wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,040,726 Milligan Oct. 8, 1912 1,133,999 Norton Mar. 30, 1915 1,265,760 Edwards May 14, 1918 1,316,508 Redmond Sept. 16, 1919 1,344,557 Myers June 22, 1920 2,082,760 Berni June 1, 1937 2,165,715 Milne July 11, 1939 2,165,720 Norland July 11, 1939 

